Ornamental arc welding



April 14,, 1925. O. H. ESCHHOLZ ORNAMENTAL ARC WELDING Filed Sept. 8, 1920 INVENTOR 0120 11. Est/212012 ATTON WITNESES:

Patented Apr. 14, 1925.

NETED STATES 1,533,239 PATET OFFICE.

O'ITO H. ESCHHOLZ, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGIIOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

ORNAMENTAL Application filed September T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OTTO H. ESCHHOLZ, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of IVilkinsburg. in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ornamental- Arc-lVelding, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to ornamental arc welding, more especially to a method of utilizing an electric are, such as is ordinarily used for electric welding, for the formation of deposits, generally of non-adherent nature.

I have found that metal. derived from a fusible metal electrode by the passage of a current therethrough, may be deposited so as to form various characters, symbols, or ornamentations of a useful and esthetic nature. If a layer of metal is deposited from, let us say, an iron electrode upon a steel plate or block, some fusion between the plate and the layer of deposited metal usually occurs, making the deposit more or less integral with the plate. I

For some purposes. it is'desirable to remove the deposited layer firom the plate without deforming or destroying either,

and I have found that this may be accomplished by utilizing a metal plate which has a high thermal conductivity and, gencrally, also, a high thermal capacity in order that the heat generated by the are which deposits the molten metal upon the surtar'c of the plate may be quickly conducted away from the surface of the plate, keeping the. same relatively cool and preventing surface fusion of the plate, thus avoiding the adhering of the deposited metal to the plate. I have further found that if such a plate consists of a metal other than that being deposited and especially if the metals of the fusible electrode and of the plate upon which the fused metal is deposited are rather-difficult to alloy, itis possible to prevent adherence of the deposited metal to the metal plate and also to avoid pitting, burning, or fusing of the same.

In practising my invention, I use a plate of a material having a high thermal condurtivity and capacity, and of different metal than that being deposited. I preterably use a copper plate or block, or one of a similar nature. The current used is I one which is of sufficient magnitude to in- ABC WELDING.

s, 1920. Serial in). 403,911.

sure the melting of the electrode, which is usually iron, at such a rate as to insure a good deposit. This current value usually lies between 5000 and 10,000 amperes per sq. in. for bare electrode wires. somewhat less for covered electrodes, and somewhat greater when alternating current is used. Such current should be the maximum current which can be used for melting the electrode without developing sufficient thermal energy at the plate to cause it to melt or to fuse to the deposited metal.

In the accompanying drawings which il-. lustrate a few of the many possibleembodiments of my invention, i

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a wooden block having thereon a deposit formed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 shows letters formed by mv method; I

Fig. 3 a composite base having a monogram of deposited metal thereon, and

Fig. 4 a cross section through a metal deposit showing the irregular upper surface thereof. I

In order to form letters, words, symbols, or ornamentation by my method, I provide a fusible electrode of iron placed in a suitable welding circuit, the electrode being manipulated so that the arc plays over a copper block or base, whereby metal is deposited thereon. In accordance with this invention, any suitable motion mav be given to the electrode by the operator'to form various configurations and, as shown in Fig, i, the metal 1. is deposited to form a word. the several parts of which consist. of scrolls or loops. Such deposit is then readily removed from the copper plate and secured in any well-known manner to the wood block 2.

Fig. 2 shows a set of blocld letters 3 formed by my method described above and illustrates one of the many types of letteringthat may be made by the-arc method. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, such letters 3 are secured to a block 4 of a molded composition, generally a paper or cloth impregnated with a hardened phenolic condensation product. I 1

Deposits, such as described above, may be made of variable thickness and, asshown in Fig. 4, the body portion 5 of the deposit may he of relatively great thickness with scroll work 6 of irregular outline forming the upper surface thereof. The number of layers of metal forming any design may, of course, be varied at the will of the operator, as may the various shapes and configurations produced.

It will be seen that the basis of the art of arc welding to produce ornamental and useful structures lies in the contour of the deposits and the junction of various adhering portions thereof. The contours may be varied in width, height, or depth by the selection of proper arc current values, electrode current densities, fusing points of electrode, speed of arc travel, and manner of manipulation of electrode.

It is obvious that the contour may also be varied by varying the direction of travel of the arc, for instance, an oscillatory movement imparted to the electrode will widen and flatten the deposit and, if exaggerated and given a somewhat rotary motion, will produce on the surface of the block or plate a succession of scallops or ridges. Various other movements, such as circular or reciprocating ,or various combinations of the same, as will occur to anyone skilled in the art, may be made, such variations resulting in the production of an endless variety of pleasing designs. This invention allows a wide latitude of design-and manipulation, details of surface ornamentation ranging from a succession of spheres to an unbroken line. A series of such surfacesmay be joined in parallel or in series, abutting, in single or multiple 1a ers, or combinations thereof,"thereby pro ueing contours of a large variety of forms.

These forms may be combined into any one of a large number of designs, patterns, objects of art, utensils, imitations of objects, etc., the structures as a whole forming, if desired, bas relief, three-dimensioned or two-dimensioned with a restricted third.

It is conceivable that by oxidizing the metallic surfaces, various colors may be developed, depending upon the material used to produce the deposit. For instance, a blue or red color in iron may be readily produced. A much larger range of colors may become available by the deposition of metals other than iron, .or various alloys of such metals.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that m invention is a basic one and opens up a wlde field for the utilization of a Welding are, which holds forth tremendous possibilities, and my invention is to be broadly construed to cover not only the forms and modifications herein described and illustrated but also any other configurations or designs which may be developed in accordance with the principles herein set forth. My invention, of course, includes all forms of deposits of whatever design, which may be made by the use of such are.

It is to be understood that although I have described my invention as including the use of a metallic electrode welding arc, my invention is not limited to the use of such are per se, since it is conceivable that the carbon are may be employed in conjunction therewith or in place thereof. The carbon arc can be utilized in the formation of deposits having a great variety of contours, and may also be used to complete the surfacing of deposits to produce a smooth finish, or to straighten'deposits at various points or in definite lines to produce various pleasing effects.

The cutting, grooving, embossing, or chasing of the surfaces by the use of a cutting arc, such as the carbon are or the covered metallic arc may be readily accomplished. The fineness or coarseness of the deposits or of the finishing thereof may be varied at will by the adjustment of current density, polarity, type of electrode, and of covering.

I claim as my invention 1. A method ofdepositing metal which comprises establishing an are between a fusible metal electrode and a metal base having a sufficiently high thermal conductivity and capacity to prevent surface fusion of said base.

2. A method of depositing metal which comprises establishing an are between a fusible metal electrode and a base of a different metal to deposit metal from said electrode, said base being maintained sufficiently cool to prevent any substantial fusing. or alloyin".

3. A method of making metal ornaments which comprises establishing an are between a fusible metal electrode and a com ducting base, manipulating said electrode to produce readily removable ormimeutal deposits, andremoving said deposits.

- 4. A method of depositing metal which comprises establishing an are between a fusible metal electrode and a conducting base, manipulating said electrode to produce ornamental deposits, removing said deposits, and securing them to suitable supports.

In testimony whereof, l have hereunto subscribed my name this 30th day of August, 1920.

OTTO ll. ESCllllt H55.

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